Ask The Expert: When Your Wounds Don't Heal

Julie Raters, RN, program director of Franciscan Health Wound Care Services in western Indiana, answers your questions and shares expert insight to help you make informed decisions about helping wounds heal.

Q:

A: While most wounds usually heal in two to three weeks, anyone who has an underlying health condition, such as diabetes, poor circulation, high blood pressure, poor nutrition, for example, will face more of a healing challenge.

A chronic non-healing wound is not a disease, but rather a result of one or more underlying conditions. Non-healing wounds require specialized wound care because of their underlying causes and their failure to proceed through an orderly and timely set of healing stages.

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Nurse practitioners (NP) are advanced practice registered nurses that manage acute and chronic medical conditions, both physical and mental, through history and physical exam and the ordering of diagnostic tests and medical treatments. NPs are qualified to diagnose medical problems, order treatments, perform advanced procedures, prescribe medications, and make referrals for a wide range of acute and chronic medical conditions within their scope of practice. Their education includes a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or other undergraduate degree, and requires a license as a registered nurse (RN) and experience as an RN in a health care setting. They must graduate from an accredited graduate (MSN) or doctoral (DNP) program and achieve a board certification.

Physician assistants (PA) typically obtain medical histories, perform examinations and procedures, order treatments, diagnose diseases, prescribe medication, order and interpret diagnostic tests, refer patients to specialists as required, and first or second-assist in surgery. Their education includes a bachelor’s degree, extensive clinical training from an accredited PA program and they must obtain a license to practice as a physician assistant.